title: Laser exposure of gold nanorods can induce intracellular calcium transients.
abstract: Uncoated and poly(styrene sulphonate) (PSS)-coated gold nanorods were taken up by NG108-15 neuronal cells. Exposure to 780 nm laser light at the plasmon resonance wavelength of the gold nanorods was found to induce intracellular Ca(2+) transients. The higher Ca(2+) peaks were observed at lower laser doses, with the highest levels obtained at a radiant exposure of 0.33 J/cm(2) . In contrast, the cells without nanoparticles showed a consistently small response, independent of the laser dose. These initial results open up new opportunities for peripheral nerve regeneration treatments and for more efficient optical stimulation techniques.
authors.affiliation: Biotactical Engineering, Industrial Research Institute Swinburne, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, PO Box 218, Victoria 3122, Australia.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paviolo
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Haycock
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cadusch
authors.forename: Sally L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: McArthur
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Stoddart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006046:Gold / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D007834:Lasers; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D006046:Gold; D002118:Calcium; C077114:styrenesulfonic acid polymer
keywords: infrared nerve stimulation; intracellular calcium signalling; laser treatment; neuronal cells; photothermal effects; plasmonic nanoparticles